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goop/paste for fitting to air compressor ?

jeff-1961

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Jul 21, 2015
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42
i used teflon tape in the past but i've read and seen videos saying the goop/paste is better and i'm thinking i wanna go that route because ..... my dumb *** .... was putting my new milton V fittings on with tape and .... busted the side off of the pot metal manifold attachments !!!!! not gonna be cheap to replace either :(

sooo .. what do you folks use and recommend ?
 
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danielbuck

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Apr 15, 2014
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I would previously use TFE paste and wasn't to impressed, maybe I've been using it wrong but I've had more leaks from paste than I ever have from tape. I've since stopped using it. I also don't like cleaning out threads that have had paste on them.

Again, maybe I was using it wrong.
 

TRWham

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Aug 11, 2017
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East Cobb County, Georgia
I use the Rectorseal TRU-BLU for air lines but it takes some time to cure. The thicker gray Teflon tape is useful for a quicker seal. Both are available at THD.
 
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jeff-1961

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Jul 21, 2015
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my local lowe has the rector seal in both T+2 and #5 in 1.75 .oz and both are about 4 bucks ...... is either slightly better than the other ? or easier to remove if changing the fittings in the future ?
 
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jeff-1961

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Jul 21, 2015
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well ... i used oatley PTFE paste because a friend had some so i didn't have to buy it ...... let it set for about 3 hours . turned on the compressor and air and paste were oozing out of both fittings around their threads . tried to tighten them a bit more but got uncomfortable with the amount of torque i was using so i took them off , cleaned the threads and applied 6 wraps of teflon tape and all is well . topped off the compressor at 120 psi and unplugged it last night and it's a hair above 100 psi this morning ... i can live with that .
 

ATC

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VA
Thread sealant has crossed my mind recently, but as much as I hate the mess of using anti-seize...no way I'm using liquid thread sealant. Teflon tape has never let me down, is mess-free, quick, and easy. I just got done plumbing up my compressor the other week with it (reducers, ball valves, filter, regulator, pressure gauge, plugs, new hose, etc...)
 

BD1

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north side
Gasolia is a great dope. Teflon tape allows the joint to be made up TOO much. Breaking or stripping fittings can happen to a novice.
Test the joint dry first. It should go in 3 and a 1/2 turns . This can be used as a guide as how much teflon tape you need. Avoid getting any in the piping itself. It can plug up regulators and accessories.
 

Mr_B

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Nov 21, 2016
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Reading
permatex is good, the loctite take hours to dry and on looser fittings has habit of leaking ...
Hard to beat simplicity and instant sealing of good ptfe tape at times .
 

redwrench60

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East Tennessee
I was taught tape on air/gasses and paste on liquids/oils with a few exceptions. The key is not to over or under tape or dope. There’s charts for fitting/pipe diameter and number of tape wraps.
 

59 wagon man

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before Teflon and tape we used spoolwick and pipe dope. use the spoolwick ,wrap the threads then a little bit of any kind of paste and no leaks once and for all. cant tell you how many 3 and 4 inch gaslines we pulled apart due to leaks and had to reassemble never wanted to do that again
 
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Dentaltec

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Feb 19, 2017
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Redlands Ca
I just did a fast pipe install in my garage and used 4 wraps of teflon and Rector #5 over the top on these fittings and they are perfect. A couple of my compression joints on the Fastpipe I am still wrestling with, losing 20lbs over night is not the end of the world to me but its my mission to find and fix. The business end of the connectors that I put together are awesome.

View media item 90933
 

lilscorpion

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Colorado
I was taught tape on air/gasses and paste on liquids/oils with a few exceptions. The key is not to over or under tape or dope. There’s charts for fitting/pipe diameter and number of tape wraps.


I was taught 1/2” and under gets 2, 5/8 - 1” gets 3. Not sure how many wraps for diameters above 1”. I’ve followed the formula for anything that needs tape. Maybe blindly so but I’ve never had problems.
 

WaterBoyz

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Nov 16, 2015
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Northern VA
I seem to notice, recently, more people promoting using tape and then dope on top of that. Is that like wearing a belt and suspenders?

I've seen people wrap tape 6-7 turns. Not sure how they can even start the threading of the fitting.
 

d.mcfarland

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The problem I see most with the tape is people use too much (too thick in my opinion) or apply it improperly and then complain it doesn't work.
 
Joined
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My Harbor Freight couplers started to corrode (more for not being used than heavy usage) so I ordered Milton couplers. When I installed them, I used Permatex 80632 Thread Sealant with PTFE. They sat for a couple days on the kitchen counter (sorry honey) and they seem fine now. I didn't do a leak-down test yet, but that is a great idea.
 

rtz

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Oklahoma City
I seem to notice, recently, more people promoting using tape and then dope on top of that. Is that like wearing a belt and suspenders?

The theory is the tape seals it and the dope keeps the threads from gulling. Since the threads cut right through the tape.
 
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jeff-1961

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Jul 21, 2015
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42
How did OP make out?
maybe a bit of info on what part /compressor etc you need, there are guys here with parts that might just be able to help you out

i used oatley ptfe paste because a friend had some . let it set for a few hours and fired up the compressor and air and paste started oozing out around the fittings . took off the fittings and manifold plugs , cleaned them off and put 6 wraps of teflon tape on , fired it up and all is well . lost a few psi over night but i can live with that . thanks for asking cobbler .
 

unclerandy

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Mar 18, 2014
Messages
54
Loctite 545 is what I use at work and in the garage, specifically made for high pressure pneumatic systems

545 only? No tape? I'm having a terrible time stopping a leak. Main male pipe coming out of Ingersoll Rand compressor with 1/4 npt head. Installed new air pressure switch manifold which is 1/4 female npt. 3 wraps of teflon tape and Megaloc pipe sealant. Leaked. I increased the amount of wraps of tape and ended up cracking the pressure switch housing (aluminum I think). Super frustrated!
 

seber

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May 31, 2016
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Deep East Tx.
Paste is handy and quick if you have high quality fittings that do not need gap filler. Tape can be wrapped to seal poorly made fittings and cast iron. One huge caveat is never use paste for flammable gasses. Even worse are oxidizing gasses. We made sure that in the brazing department only those trained for working on flammable gasses were allowed to put piping together and paste was never allowed into the department.
 

matt_i

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Mar 14, 2008
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SE Michigan
Paste is handy and quick if you have high quality fittings that do not need gap filler. Tape can be wrapped to seal poorly made fittings and cast iron. One huge caveat is never use paste for flammable gasses. Even worse are oxidizing gasses. We made sure that in the brazing department only those trained for working on flammable gasses were allowed to put piping together and paste was never allowed into the department.

I've always read this but never piped an oxygen system. What exactly happens? Accelerated corrosion? Or it starts to burn up the sealant?
 

unclerandy

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Mar 18, 2014
Messages
54
Reactor seal. Expensive but very much worth it

It’s $3 dollars. Is the advice to use Rectorseal only and no Teflon tape? It does seem after multiple times installing it with different amount of wraps used and with pipe dope that there may be voids to fill.
 

unclerandy

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Mar 18, 2014
Messages
54
Is the T Plus a completely different kind of sealant that would do something different than the Megaloc I’ve been trying?
 

NitroShark

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Jan 8, 2010
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518
Location
Greenville, SC
The OP ask:goop/paste for fitting to air compressor ?


Check and be sure you are not trying to install a 55*degree ISO thread to a 60*degree NPT thread. (as an example)

Most people don't realize the difference between all the systems and have leaks.


Just be sure you know what you have first before tying to seal two systems together.





.
 

HenryAZ

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Sep 18, 2012
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Location
South Congress AZ
I've been using LockTite 561 stick type thread sealant on tapered pipe fittings for years. Seals well, prevents galling, and the stick form is easy to use and store. Very easy to dap on the threads right off the stick. Click on the image to see it at Amazon.

 
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